White Wines 101
This article has just about everything you need to know about white wines. After reading this, you’ll be knowledgeble in white wines from across the globe and what foods to pair it with.
Here are some common and not so common varieties of white wines…
When it comes to white wines, the best wine is Chardonnay. It has a smoky or vanilla type of aroma. The flavor goes well with fish, chicken, or pork.
Sauvignon Blanc is another white wine which gives of a peppery, herbal aroma. The acidity level is higher than a Chardonnay. Seafood is the perfect match for this type of wine.
Semillon is often blended with Sauvignon Blanc to out the acidic variety that white wines have. Semillon has more discreet aromas and has a low acidic level. The aroma will remind you of figs and lemons. Semillon goes well with cheese. This is one of the few white wines that age well.
Another excellent white wine is the Riesling. Its balance of sugar and low acidic levels goes well with fish, pork and goes well with Thai and Chinese food. Typical aroma of a Riesling is flowers, fruits, and mineral stone. This wine is usually never put into oak barrels.
Frascati has been called “The Gold Wine” from the Romans and was a favorite wine of Pope Gregorio XVI. Frascati is a dry, crisp and fresh wine. It’s excellent with soup, seafood, chicken and other light dishes. It’s best served cold.
Chenin is another excellent wine. The best Chenin wines come from France. This is a sweet, dry wine. Chenin is also a widely grown grape in South Africa. The wine is usually bland with tones of grass and apple.
Pouilly Fuisse is a dry full bodied white wine from France. It usually has a pale, buttery taste with hints of honey and hazelnut. It’s best served at 55 degrees Fahrenheit. This wine goes well with smoked fish, grilled fish, chicken, or other white meats. It also goes well with creamy cheeses.
Silvaner originated in Austria but became famous in Germany. This wine pairs nicely with rice dishes that aren’t too spicy, and mild chicken dishes. This wine has a gentle and mild fruit taste and is light in acidity.
Pedro Ximenez is a dessert wine from Spain. It has a strong taste of raisins and molasses. This wine is almost syrupy and goes well with vanilla ice cream and mild coffee. Some say that this wine borders a high end dessert Sherry.